Hundreds of supporters of Tunisian President Kais Saied gathered in the capital today, Monday, to express their support for him following a campaign to detain opponents accused of treason and corruption, and in rejection of what they termed foreign intervention.
The demonstrators, who congregated on Habib Bourguiba Street, chanted "The people want to purify the country."
In recent weeks, the police have launched a campaign of arrests that included prominent opposition leaders, who accuse Saied of a coup, and have apprehended politicians, judges, a unionist, a prominent businessman, and the head of an independent radio station.
Saied denied that any coup had taken place, stating that his actions are legal and necessary to rescue Tunisia from years of chaos and corruption. He condemned his opponents, labeling them as traitors, criminals, and terrorists.
Saied, who was elected in 2019, seized most powers in 2021 after dissolving the elected parliament and changing the government before moving to rule by decrees and draft a new constitution.
